Election 2012Labour in control at Coventry City Council elections

IT proved to be a night to remember for the Labour party as they increased their power at Coventry City Council following this year's local election.

The party gained eight seats in Coventry, while the Tories lost six and Liberal Democrats lost their only seat.

Lib Dem Russell Field lost out to Labour's Kamran Asif Caan in the Upper Stoke Ward and former Labour MP Dave Nellist (Socialist) lost his St Michael's seat to Labour's Naeem Akhtar by just 204 votes, one of the closest margins of the evening.

Labour also picked up seats in Westwood, Woodlands, Sherbourne, Wyken, Bablake and Whoberley.

Elsewhere, Coventry residents also voted NO to having an elected mayor as part of a referendum which took place alongside the election.

A total of 62,956 votes were made, 22,619 of which were in favour but a resounding 39,483 voted against the idea.

The turnout figures across Coventry were were confirmed as 27.86% in the referendum and 26.43% in the local election, making it one of the lowest turnout's in recent years.